Buoyancy control device



Dec. 10, 1946. M. G. LEONARD BUOYANCY CONTROL DEVICE Filed Aug. 5, 1'944 mvENToR Meir/W 6? e0/lara( WWW.

ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 10, 1946 BUOYAN CY CONTROL DEVICE i Merrill G. Leonard, Sharon, Pa., assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East rPittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application August 5, 1944, Serial No. 548,276

s My invention relates to torpedoes, and more.

particularly to an exercise head for a torpedo and the apparatus for discharging the ballast fiuid from the exercise head. During the final run of the torpedo, it is, of course, provided with a war head and no special provision need be made 4for recovery of the torpedo, but since it is highly essential that each torpedo'at least receive several practice or exercise, runs before actually being used in battle, it is important that the torpedo be provided with an exercisehead, and that the torpedo be buoyant at the end of its run to facilitate its recovery.

The Government of the United States hasI been granted a certain royalty-free license for governmental purposes with respect to the invention herein described.

` One object of my invention is the provision of means for readily removing the ballast uid from an exercise head of a torpedo.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a system of control for effecting the removal of the ballast fluid from-an exercise head of a torpedo at the proper time after firing lof the torpedo.

Another object of my invention is the provision of electromagnetically operated valve means for controlling the fiow of blow-off fluid from the fiask containing the blow-ofi gas under high pressure.

A more specific object is the provision of` a solenoid actuated hydrostatically unbalancedV pressure gas flask closed and of means associ` ated with said valve for effecting the operation of the valve at the right time for opening the outlet from the gas containing flask.

Other objects and advantages will become more apparent from a study of the following specication and the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a somewhat schematic showing of an exercise head of a torpedo and the starting gear for the torpedo;

Fig. 2 is a side view of my special valve for controlling the ow of blow-ofi` fiuid, with certain parts shown in section to more accurately illustrate the construction of the valve; and

-. Fig. 3 is an end View of my valve on line III- III in Fig. 2.

Referring to Fig. l, I designates the firing tube of the torpedo which is shown provided with a dog 2 for actuating a trigger-switch 3. This trigger switch 3 has its operating mechanism suitably sealed from the water outside of the torpedo and when operated upon firing of the 7 Claims. (Cl. 114--20) torpedo eiects the closing of a circuit for start'-v ing the propulsion equipment of the torepdo. The propulsion equipment is not shown, since in itself it forms no part of this invention.

The exercise head 4 is connected to the left of the-partition 5 and is provided with a suitable discharge valve 6 and an inlet 1 for admitting the gas, under high pressure in flask 8, into the practice head. TheA flask `8 is provided with 'a' pressure reducing Valve 9 which has a coupling I0 of steel or some other strong metal connected to it. This coupling provides for the support of a solenoid II, the plunger or armature I2 to be actuated by the solenoid, the trip switch I3v andr seen in Fig. 2, to Aclose the contacts ofthe trip switch I3. `This operation establishes a 'circuit from the positive terminal of the battery I1 through the contacts 53 of the switch I3, con-' ductor 54, the pilot lights 55 .and 56, conductor de 51 manually operable switch 5I to the negative 3i) terminal of the battery. l

Another circuit is established from the positive terminal of the battery I1 through thesolenoid II,.conductor 58, contacts 3l and 3.2 of the controller operated by the motor 21 to the energized conductor 51. Connected in parallel with the contacts 3| is a torpedo speed responsive switch 59. This switch may be actuated by Pitot tubes or as shown by a suitable scoop which is actuated.

by the water flowing past `the torpedo and thus is caused to maintain its contact members closed; It is apparent that the instant the torpedo speed has dropped to some selected' low speed, the

scoop 60 which is spring-biased to a downward,A position will cause opening of the contact mem- 45 upon a circuit is established from .the battery I1, which circuit may be traced from the posi,-

tive terminal of the battery through the actuating` I9;

solenoid or coil I8 of the starting switch n conductor 20, controller switch contacts 33, confductor 22 contacts It and conductor 23 back to the negative terminal of the battery II. The starting switch I9 has a time constant which may be an inductive time constant and may be designated by the low resistance short-circuit coil 24. This means that when coil I8 is de energized, the contacts 25 do not open until a predetermined time after de-energization of coil Operation of starting switch I9 closes thecontacts 25, whereupon the propulsion motor isv energized and a circuit is also established from the positive terminal of the battery through contacts 25, conductor 25, contacts 34, controlleroper-ating motor 2l and conductor 28 tothe negative terminal of the battery.

The controller operating motor =2`I isof 'thel constant speed type and operates the four conthe valve controlling the blow-cir iiuid. I provide this trip switch I3 in the circuit for the pilot'lights-so that a mere inspection of the I .torpedo at the front-will indicate whether or not tact members 3|, s2, as and Ia4 in the order recited. Normally, these contacts are closed. The closed position of the contacts is, of course, maintained Iat the `starting of the .,torpedo. .Since the `nropulsmi fequipment, a snort time after nir'- i'ng off 'the torpedo, takes hold, the 'torpedo is ,pro-` ceeding through the water and the speed respon-k sive switch 59V yactuated by the scoop '60, is in closed position. Therefore, the energization of the ysolenoid II no longer is -established through both the contacts 3'I and the contacts of the speed responsive switch '.59 but Yis only established through the contacts Yof the speed responsive Switch 59.

`The motor 2.1'has its contactsso arranged that contact 3l opensassoon as the torpedo. ,has obtained full speed in the Water, `that is, the time constant of Vcontacts Y3'I is suiiicient` in length to permit the speed responsive relay or switch to assume control.

It', after the torpedo is in the water, there be a voltage failure, or the battery voltage, because of exhaustion or some other cause, drops, the solenoid II becomes de-energized .and the valve 62 is thus opened'. Similarly if `the torpedo speed decreases below a given value .the speed responsive relay opens the circuit for lsolenoid I I and thevalve 52' is caused to open. When valve 62 opensthe. Ifluid from ask 8 will be. expelled from the flask through the steel pipe tting I4., the conduit I and `opening 'I into the exercise head.

From the `foregoing. it is clear thatl if the torpedo speed decreases to a given low value, the voltage fails or the end of the run is attained the solenoid I I isdeeenergized.

Immediately after the contacts v32 open, contacts. 3.3 open which lde-energize the actuating coil 'I8 and the propulsion equipment is thereby stopped by the opening of contacts 25; Since starting switch I9' has a short ltime constant, contacts 25 will remain closed for a sufficient length of time to permit the motor 2,1 to operatel contact 3.4 to interrupt the circuit for the motor 2l. All the circuits are thus de-energized except the pilotr lights.

For the details ofV the Valve, reference should' be had to Figs. 2 and 3. It will be noted that the.Y plunger I2 has a somewhat smaller extension 6I which is screwed into the plunger I2. This extension has a rubber or nylon valve seat 62" for closing the opening leading to the reducing valve. 9. The plunger I2 itself'is made of soft iron or some other magnetic material to provide avconsiderable force towards the left to close the,Y opening .from the reducer valve when the solenoid II isenergized. Since it Would be irnpractical to maintain the current in solenoid II for a great length of time as, for instance, dur- @the :screw 'rhas. :been turned back to release fthe valve, thummafking the torpedo ready for iiring. Y

Whilevv 'I have shown the motor 2l as connected `to the battery through the contact 25, it is apparent that the vcontacts Si, 32, 33 and 34 Vneed not necessarilybe operated .by a -motor but may .just as readily be operated fromithe driving shaft of. .the propulsion. motor- While I have shown one embodimentv of my special electromagnetically operated val-ve 'and one system of control, it is readily apparent :that

others, particularlyafter .having Ahad .the-benefit of the -teachings of .my .invention may deviseV other systems of control. and other valves for accomplishing the same or similar .puit-poses. l'., therefore, do not Wish to `be limited to the particularV showing made and .description hereinbeifore given, but wish to be limited only .by the claims hereto appended.

Iclaimas my invention.:`

1. In a system` of control for pneumatically expelling the ballast liquid from the practice Vhead of a torpedo by means :of ya gas. from afhigh vpressure `gas ask mounted on the practice head, in combination, a source of gas pressure comprisingv a flask, a conduit connecting the flask. with the practice head, a valve for closing the conduit, an

energized solenoidV for 'holding the valve closed,v and means responsive to either the stopping. of

of a torpedo, by'means of a iiuid under relatively" high pressure from a high pressure ask, throughA suitable valve means.. in the practice head permitting the flow of the ballast liquid, whenk subj ected to a predetermined'pressure, fromthe practice head to thus make the torpedo buoyant, inr combination, a conduit Coupled to the a'sk; valve means comprising a valve seat in the conduit, a hydrostatically'unbalanced valve disposed to seat on the valve seat, said valve beingl connected to one` end of a plunger of magnetic material, a nonmagnetic guide sleeve for the'plunger, a solenoidv disposed about the sleeve and plunger which solenoid when energized holds the valve onits seat against the pressure of the fluid' in Ysaid conduit, and a second conduit providing' a connection from the flask to the vinterior of the practice 'head when the valve is open, and means responsive either to a predetermined operation of the torpedo or toa predetermined' speed of2 the torpedo, de-

pending on whichever' occurs rst for deenergizing said solenoid to ei'ect the opening of said valve-to thus admituid from the flask into thepractice' head to displace the ballast liquid and thus make the torpedo buoyant.'v

to seat on the valve seat, said valve being connected to one end of a plunger of magnetic material, a nonmagnetic guide sleeve for the plunger, a solenoid disposed about the sleeve and plunger which solenoid when energized holds the valve on its seat against the pressure of the fluid in said conduit, and a second conduit providing a connection from the flask to the interior of the practice head when the valve is open, signal lights, an adjustable stop disposed at the other end of the plunger, which stop when adjusted to one extreme position operates the plunger to firmly seat the valve, and when adjusted to its other extreme position eects the operation of the signal lights to indicate that the solenoid is energized to hold the valve closed, and means responsive either to a predetermined operation of the torpedo or to a predetermined speed of the torpedo, depending on Whichever occurs first, for de-energizing said solenoid to effect the opening of said valve to thus admit uid from the flask into the practice head to displace the ballast liquid and thus make the torpedo buoyant.

4. In a system of control for pneumatically expelling the ballast liquid from the practice head of a torpedo, by means of a fluid under relatively high pressure from a high pressure flask, through suitable valve means in the practice head permitting the flow of the ballast liquid, when subjected to a predetermined pressure, from the practice head to thus make the torpedo buoyant, in combination, a conduit coupled to the flask; valve means comprising a valve seat in the conduit, a hydrostatically unbalanced valve disposed to seat on the valve seat, said valve being connected to one end of a plunger of magnetic material, a nonmagnetic guide sleeve for the plunger, a solenoid disposed about the sleeve and plunger which solenoid when energized holds the valve on its seat against the pressure of the fluid in said conduit, and a second conduit providing a connection from the flask to the interior of the practice head whenv the valve is open, means responsive to a predetermined operation of the torpedo, after being fired, for effecting the de-energization of said solenoid to open the valve to thus admit uid from the flask into the practice head displacing the ballast liquid to make the torpedo buoyant.

5. In a system of control for pneumatically expelling the ballast liquid from the practice head of a torpedo, by means of a fluid under relatively high pressure from a high pressure flask, through suitable valve means in the practice head permitting the ow of the ballast liquid, when subjected to a predetermined pressure, from the practice head to thus make the torpedo buoyant, in combination, a conduit coupled to the flask; valve means comprising a valve seat in the conduit, a hydrostatically unbalanced valve disposed to seat on the valve seat, said valve being connected to one end of a plunger of magnetic material, a nonmagnetic guide'sleeve for the plung-z er, a solenoid disposed about thesleeve and plunger which solenoid whenenergized holds the valve on its seat against the pressure of the iluid in said conduit, and a second conduit .providing a' connection from the ask'to the interiorof .the practice head when the valve is open,'signa'l lights, an adjustable stop disposed at the other'e'nd 'of thefplunger, which stop when adjusted 'to one extreme position operates the plunger to firmly seat the valve, and when adjusted to its other extreme position effects the operation of the signal lights to indicate that the solenoid is energized to hold the valve closed, means responsive to a selected speed of the torpedo in the water for de-energizing said solenoid to open the valve to thus admit fluid from the ask into the practice head displacing the ballast liquid to make the torpedo buoyant.

6. In a system of control for pneumatically ex pelling the ballast liquid from the practice head of a torpedo, by means of a fluid under relatively high Dressure from a high pressure flask, through suitable valve means in the practice head permitting the flow of the ballast liquid, when subjected to a predetermined pressure, from the practice head to thus make the torpedo buoyant, in combination, a conduit coupled to the flask; valve means comprising a valve seat on the conduit, a hydrostatically unbalanced valve disposed to seat on the valve seat, said valve being connected to one end of a plunger of magnetic material, a nonmagnetic guide sleeve for the plunger, a solenoid disposed about the sleeve and plunger which solenoid when energized holds the valve on its seat against the pressure of the fluid in said conduit, and a second conduit providing a connection from the flask to the interior of the practice head when the valve is open, means responsive to a predetermined operation of the torpedo, after being red for effecting the de-energization of said solenoid to open the valve to thus admit fluid from the flask into the practice head displacing the ballast liquid to make the torpedo buoyant, means responsive to a selected speed of the torpedo in the water for also effecting the de-energization of said Solenoid to similarly make the torpedo buoyant, and means for selecting the operation of either of said last two means depending on Whichever of the respective control effects for said last two means occurs first.

7. In a system of control for pneumatically expelling the ballast liquid from the practice head of a torpedo, by means of a fluid under relatively high pressure from high pressure flask, through suitable valve means in the practice head permitting the flow of the ballast liquid, when subjected to a predetermined pressure, from the practice head to thus make the torpedo buoyant, in combination, a conduit coupled to the flask; valve means comprising a valve seat in the conduit, a hydrostatically unbalanced valve disposed to seat on the valve seat, said valve being connected to one end of a plunger of magnetic material, a nonmagnetic guide sleeve for the plunger, a, solenoid disposed about the sleeve and plunger which solenoid when energized holds the valve 0n its seat against the pressure of the fluid in said conduit, and a second conduit providing aV connection from `the flask to the interior of the practice head when the valve is open, signal lights, an adjustable stop disposed at the other end of the plunger, which stop when adjusted to one extreme position operates the plunger Ato firmly' sem',A the vvalve. and ,when adjustedtolts other extreme. position effects thev operation ofthe signalzlight's to indicate that the solenoid isenergi'zed to holdv the valve closed, meansresponsive to a'predetermined; operation of the torpedova,fter being re'd, for effecting'the defenergizationi of. said: 'solenoid to open the Valve to thus .admit fluid fromthe ask into the practice Vhead dis placing 'the ballastliquid to make the torpedo buoyant, Vmeansnresponsiye; to ai,` selected4 vspeedeov the torpedo in the Watenfor also effecting4 the; deenergization of vsaidsolenod to similarly make thetorpedo buoyant, and means for selectingthe operation of feither of said lastu two means der. pending on whichever of the respective control effects for said last two means occursrst.

MERRILL .G1 LEONARD. 

